Żebbuġ Rangers 2
Żurrieq 1

Żebbuġ Rangers stayed on top of the standings after scraping to victory against the less-quoted Żurrieq.

The league leaders looked comfortable enough early on. In fact, they scored twice in the first few minutes of the match only to allow Żurrieq get back into the match.

In the end, the Reds could have easily returned home with a point in their bags but they ran out of time.

After 20 seconds Stefan Giglio pulled down AndersonRibeiro in the box and Alan Tabone scored from the penalty.

Rangers doubled their lead less than two minutes later when Rodrigues Britto controlled a long ball before hitting low and hard past the Żurrieq keeper.

Aaron Agius could have halved the deficit for Żurrieq but hit badly from a good position and Agbeobina also suffered the same fate after an inviting ball from a team-mate.

Agbeobina had another golden chance to score but was foiled by the quick-thinking Żebbuġ custodian. However, a minute before the break the Reds succeeded in pulling one back when Agius and Agboebina exchanged passes before the latter placed the ball beyond the keeper’s reach.

On resumption, Żurrieq held the initiative and Mead Mifsud’s effort was stopped by keeper Farrugia.

Żebbuġ responded with a Matthew Gauci shot but Alden saved well for a corner.

On 77 minutes Rangers could have put the game to bed but the unmarked Ribeiro was blocked by the Żurrieq rearguard before he was able to conclude.

Żebbuġ: J. Farrugia, K. Scicluna, L. Gauci, R. Mandic, M. Francica, M. Farrugia, T. Paris, C. Gauci (M. Gauci), A. Tabone (B. Chetcuti), A.M. Ribeiro, M. Rodrigues Britto (D. Da Silva Silveira).

Żurrieq: J. Alden, K. Sacco, S. Giglio, S. Wellman, M. Mifsud, J. Garnier (S. Azzopardi), M. Cocks (C. Farrugia), D. Darmanin, M. Schembri (D. Zammit), A. Agius, O.L. Agbeobina.

Referee: Sandro Spiteri.

Player of the match: Alan Tabone (Żebbuġ Rangers).